Are you there God? It’s Me Generation X.

Are you there, God? It's Me, Generation X.

Looking for God

Looking for God in those 2 a.m. cigarettes, as we look to the stars in the sky on all those many nights. --Ode to Generation X, 2009

I've never smoked a cigarette, but if I did, and it just so happened to be at 2 a.m., I'm pretty certain that alone in the smoke and the lamplight, I'd be looking toward God. I'd be inhaling on all the years that have rocketed by and exhaling on all the things I can't change - like people I love growing up or growing old or moving away.

I'd be inhaling on my cautious hopes for tomorrow and exhaling on how I wish for my Bridgy and Sully and Juliette -- and Juliette -- and Juliette -- a perfect world with no sorrow or pain.

And, then I'd inhale on bigger hope, because life is short and I want to seize the day.

Then I'd close my eyes and exhale at the thought of my children -- laughing and smiling -- with most of their lives still ahead of them; and my husband Robert, his black hair salted more and more with each passing day.

Not Cigarettes, But Prayer

And, then I'd breathe in again at the thought of my own mortality, and that one day, I will leave this world, and I hope my living matters - even if only to them.

And, suddenly, I'd let go of my breath, so glad there is a God who understands that all this inhaling and exhaling at 2 a.m. is not cigarettes, but prayer.

And, then, I'd ask Him for a miracle - whatever kind He thinks I might need -- because it never hurts to ask.

Are you there God? It's me, Generation X.

Message For You

Yes, you, person staring at the screen. Person who read all the way down to this point. You finally made it here to the Gen X blog. Thank you for being here. Thank you for not clicking away. I know everyone is competing for your attention.

I've been blogging about Generation X for almost a decade. When I first started writing about us, some people thought the idea of a blog devoted to Gen-Xers was pretty weird. But, now, after nearly 10 years, it's started to catch on. Mostly, because we're all getting older and time is slipping away.

Our parents are dying

Our children are growing up

We're not young anymore

As more and more time passes, we find we have a deeper connection to those who lived through the same stuff that we did.

I have worked so hard to build this blog. I've poured so much time into it -- and I did it for you -- and other Gen-Xers like you -- who are still trying to figure out where they belong in the world -- and if anyone cares that they're alive. YOU BELONG RIGHT HERE -- WITH YOUR GENERATION. Your birth, your life is not an accident. You were born for a purpose! The Psalmist tells us that God knew you before you were even born. He loves you. He wants to restore you. He and He alone can and will make everything in your life new again.

There's a Proverb that says, we make our plans, but the only the Lord knows which way we will go. He has ordered your steps, and that is why I am so grateful you came here today. Please stick around. Subscribe to my monthly newsletter. Use that form in the light green box in the right-hand sidebar, or below, if you're reading on mobile. Also, join the Facebook page. I want to stay in touch with you and would love to hear your story.

I've got a mansion, just over the hilltop...

Gen-Xers: Losing My Religion

In 1986, Dieter Zander launched a church in Covina, California called New Song. His hope was to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Generation X, a generation the church has struggled to reach. “Perhaps no other generation has needed the church so much,” Zander famously wrote. “Yet sought it so little.” Here are a few reasons why:

Church Scandals

Generation X grew up with a number of church and religious scandals that made headlines. These included:

The ostentatious television sets and endless pleas for financial support and offerings

Jim Bakker’s infidelity (Jim and Tammy Fay Bakker)

Marvin Gorman’s infedility

Jimmy Swaggart’s attacks on Bakker and Gorman for their infidelity, following the discovery that Swaggart, too, had engaged in a number of affairs with prostitutes.

Church can leave your wondering where to find God.

How To Find God

Many times throughout my life I have sought to find God. I have sought His presence in my life for nearly 50 years. And, of course, I have sought many answers to my deepest prayers. I have never found Him more than in this is the book of life. Every time you open it up and read it you will be blessed. Your life will change forever, with each new day, for you will literally be breathing in the very God who gave you breath.

May I also suggest another book that really changed my life? It's called The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey. I promise, it will open your heart to so many miracles! In addition, you may want to check out this big, long post I wrote, Who Is Generation X?

More Posts on Faith and How To Find God

To discover more posts on faith and God please visit the CATEGORIES page where you'll find more 30 different categories by which I organize posts. You can also visit the TAGS page. It features more than 300 tags, which is a second tier of organization. Have fun looking around. There are a lot of posts about faith and God on this blog. Thank you!

Comments

Dear Jen, My name is Timothy M. Zonoe, I was born and raised in the heat of the Liberian civil war, since my birth I’ve never seen the fun side of my country, all me and my generation have seen are the act of violence, corruption, pestilence and destruction. Bumping into your article (http://www.jenx67.com/2017/10/lamco-liberia.html ) make me breakdown in tears for this once land full of laughter and harmony. Thanks for the article, I can do now is to imagine if I was part of it.

Dear Timothy, I am so sorry for all you and your generation have gone through in Liberia. I pray for an end to the corruption, pestilence, violence. Your heart is tender. Don’t give up hope. God bless you, Brother.

I went to church when I was little…my family stopped going but because we’re catholic my mom felt it necessary for all of us to go through Sunday school…I never got much out of it…I always wondered what all this stuff they were teaching me has to do with me…I’ve always felt a sense of alienation in church….like everyone was getting something I just couldn’t connect with…

Thank you for writing. I pray you will feel a connection to the Lord today. I pray He will meet all your needs and bring you joy and comfort. I feel alienated in Church quite often, and sometimes wonder if God hears me, and still, I pray.

Love this. You’re doing a great work and a wonderful job! I used to sit on my bed at between ages five and six saying, “Are you there, God? It’s me, Carol.” (and later the Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret. book I loved. 🙂 Remember the “Shoeshine Girl” ? and at about age 12, I was reading Erma Bombeck’s “If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I doing in the Pits?” yes.. I had an extensive book collection beginning with the Holy Bible and world maps all over my walls knowing that somewhere in there, we could find where we came from. Oh, and Shakespeare and J.R. R. Tolkien by and before age 8! and teaching my mom ‘how to be a store’) Wow. I love that you are putting all this together. Remember the Live Aid concert, and Comic Relief? (we need another comic relief in today’s times.)

These are terrific memories, Carol! I had to go search Shoeshine Girl. It sounded vaguely familiar, but once I found it I remembered it immediately. Wow – that takes me back! I also read that book by Bombeck. (I still cannot believe she is gone.) And of course, I read Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, and inserted Jennifer. To this day it is probably among my top 10 favorite books. I hope you’ll stop by again! You’ve given me some great ideas for posts. And, yes, we need a 2017 Comic Relief!!

IM A GENERATION X-ER AND APPARENTLY I CODDLED MY KIDS AND WAS CINSIDERED OVERLY EMESHED WITH THEM. WHICH I DIDNT UNDERSTAND BUT IN WAYS I SEE HOW THEY ARE RUDE IN WAYS ESPECIALLY MY OLDEST SON OF THIRTY IS QUITE SELF CENTERED BUT THINKS THE PROBLEMS ARE OTHER PEOPLES FAULT HES NEVER WRONG IN HIS OPINION AND NOW HE RUNS ME OVER IN MY OWN HOME IN EVERY WAY YOU CAN IMAGINE AND I DONT ECVEN HAVE A SAY IN MY HOME AS HE OCCUPIES MY LIVING ROOM WITH HIS PIG STY WAYS AND MY KITCHEN WITHG THE SAME I ALMOST NEVER USE IT ANYMORE AND HIS CAT OCCUPIES MY BATHROOM I NEVER WAS ONE TO ALLOW LITTERBOXES IN MY HOUSE. I LIVE LIKE IN UNSANITARY CIONDITIONS BECAUSE OF IT ID SAY FROM WHAT I SEE WE HAVE BASICALLY WRECKED OUR KIDS WITH LOVE AND RUINED OUR CHANCES FOR RESPECT WITHOUT POSSIBILITY FOR OBTAINING FOR MOST PART…AS WELL I DOUBT IL EVER BE HEARD OR RESPECTED AND IM EXHAUSTED AND DEPRESSED

I am so sorry you have gone though this. I understand. It is very painful to love and give so much and have the very people you adore walk all over you. You’re entitled to peace – a peace you can make for yourself. And, you certainly should not have to live with litter boxes if you don’t want them. Take courage and may God be with you on your journey. He is able to help you. IF I didn’t believe this for myself, I would have given up on many things a long time ago. I pray today He will bless and keep you and give you hope.

What an incredible discovery: this Blog about “God and Generation X”. I’m of an even older generation than the “Baby Boomers” – I’m a “War Baby” (born during WW 2), and I’ve read and enjoyed “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret,” too.

I hope to check this Blog of yours often, now that I’ve found it. How refreshing….how sensitive….how “on target”.